FILE - In this April 22, 2013 file photo, Bartholomew Granger, left, enters court for the start of his trial in Galveston, Texas. The Houston man who admitted shooting his daughter outside a Texas courthouse was convicted Tuesday, April 30, of capital murder for the death of a 79-year-old bystander. Granger said he was angry with his daughter for testifying against him in a sex assault case. (AP Photo/The Beaumont Enterprise, Dave Ryan)

GALVESTON _ Shouting "Restrain me, I'm out of control!," convicted murderer Bartholomew Granger on Wednesday verbally assaulted his lawyers, trial witnesses, the judge and the daughter he tried to kill, prompting defense counsel to question his competency as jurors prepared to decide whether he should be put to death.

James Makin and Sonny Cribbs asked Judge Bob Wortham for a competency hearing after they said their client lashed out at them verbally before Wednesday's punishment proceedings.

Profanity-laden tirade

Granger, of Houston, was convicted on Tuesday of capital murder in the shooing death of Minnie Ray Sebolt, a 79-year-old Deweyville grandmother. She was fatally wounded in a shooting spree as she entered the Jefferson County Courthouse on March 12, 2012. Granger's daughter, Samantha Jackson, and two other women survived. The trial was moved to Galveston.

On Wednesday, jurors were escorted from the courtroom so Wortham could take up the matter. At that point, Granger launched into a profanity-laden tirade against the judicial system and Jackson. After hearing the verdict on Tuesday, Granger left the courtroom almost jauntily, grinning and winking at prosecutors. He presented a markedly different demeanor on Wednesday, prompting Makin to say he believed Granger had suffered some kind of breakdown that impaired his ability to work with his lawyers, one of the standards of competency.

Wortham said it was understandable that Granger would be upset, given the jury verdict of the day before, but that did not necessarily make him incompetent to stand trial.

He said Granger had "behaved like a gentleman" since jury selection had begun and that he didn't see any reason why Granger shouldn't be able to abide by courtroom rules.

Makin said he thought Granger was not "going to be able to control himself," potentially harming his case.

Wortham asked Granger if he could continue to maintain his composure.

"I can't, because these people are lying on me!" Granger replied heatedly. "It's not about me being angry or being out of control … I told you from the very beginning I didn't want to come here."

He said he'd been wronged by Judge John Stevens in his 2012 aggravated sexual assault trial, where Jackson and her mother, Claudia Jackson, were witnesses against him. Claudia Jackson was also injured in the shooting spree.

Granger would continue his tantrum, blaming his situation on his daughter.

'"The bitch got what she deserved!" he said. "She's the one who should be dead - not the old lady, her!"

'I'm out of control'

Wortham halted the proceedings and asked the lawyers to confer with him in private. A bailiff escorted Granger to a holding room.

When Granger returned to the courtroom, so did his outbursts.

Wortham told Granger if the outbursts continued, he'd have him restrained.

"Restrain me, I'm out of control!" Granger said.

A bailiff handcuffed him, and soon he was escorted from the courtroom. The lawyers then went into a conference with Wortham. As the proceeding continued, Granger stayed in the holding room.

Wortham then ruled there was a "legal issue to be determined outside the presence of the jury," and that they should be dismissed for the rest of the day.

Makin said the issue was Granger's competency, but Wortham would not say whether a competency hearing would be held.